Measured-service telephone system



Sept. 28, 1926.

W. w- OWEN MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM Original Filed Sept. 7 1921 6 She ets-Sheet 1 1m Drhlham Mal? Umsn M Sept. 28, 1926.

w. w. OWEN MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYS'TEM inal Filed p 7 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 28,1926. 1,691,702

-w.w. owEN MEASUiiED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM ofj i Filed Sept. 7. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet '5 MEI-11E? ZrLhZham Mal? Umen.

Sept. 28, 1926.

W. W. OWEN MEASURED" SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM 0 rigina1 pt/'7. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 W. OWEN MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM Sept, v 28, 1926.

Original Filed Sept. '7 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 'mrsn up J'JLFLZZzdm Mal??? [7711511 Sept. 28, 1926. 1,601,702

W. W. OWEN MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM Original Filed Sept. 7. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Imrsu P-- DLhZham ZUEZZH' [7mm Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

WILLIAM W'ALTER OWEN, OF OAK PARK,

eaten-r orFicE.

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO AUTOIEATIC ELECTRIC, INC, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORFORATION OF DELAWARE.

MEASURED-SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Original application filed September 7, 1921, Serial No. 499,011. Divided and this application filed October 6, 1924.

immediately upon the response of the called subscriber, and wherein the charging equipment simultaneously starts its charging operation and continues until the talking connection is broken.

Other objects are to provide improved and simplified devices for accomplishing the above results.

A few metering systems aiming at some 01": the above objects have been invented, but it is believed that the system herein disclosed is less expensive, less complicated and is not so restricted in use, rendering itmore adaptable for commercial use.

Gther features disclosed not claimed are covered by copending application Serial iii- 199,011, vfiled Sept. 7. 1921. of which this application is a division.

In the system disclo sedherein, it is assumed that the community covered by a system is divided arbitrarily into zones or" calling, each zone requiring a unit charge. In most cases, the unit zone of calling will be all calls in a. single exchange or community, while calls from the first zone into an adjoining zone or community require a double or increased rate of charge. Then, it a call is made from one zone through a second zone to a third zone, the charge per each unit of time should be practically three times as great as the unit of charge. The system herein disclosed is not limited in any way to necessitate any particular multiple time arrangement, that is, the arrangement could be such that any decimal proportion might be added when going through an additional exchange.

In. the drawings attached hereto I have shown an established connection from one Serial No. 741,802.

exchange through a second exchange and into a third exchange where thecall may then proceed either to the called subscriber in that exchange, or may be extended still further to lines in still other exchanges.

It should be understood that each exchange consists of a number of line switches, selectors and connectors, the number depending upon the size of the exchange, also in each exchange there are incoming selectors of a special type in which the incoming trunk lines from other exchanges ter-- minate and also there are a number of se lector repeaters in each exchange which are accessible to a certain level or levels of the first selectors and which. have access to outgoingtrunks to other exchanges. Thus it will be seen, that when a subscriber makes a call to another exchange he first operates his line switch to seize a selector in the usual way and then operates his selector to seize a selector repeater, instead of the regular connector used for local calls.

The selector repeater is thenoperated to pick out an outgoing trunk line tothe proper exchange and the next series of impulses are then repeated by the selector repeater tothe incoming selector in the'other exchange. The incoming selector is then operated to either seize a connector in the other exchange'if the call isloc al or to seize a selector repeater in said other exchange if the call is to be extended to still another exe change.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a calling line A in the first exchange having a line switch O individual thereto, which has access to a plurality of selectors, such as D. The selector D, it will be understood, has access to the regular connectors, such as shown at H (Fig-4e), from certain levels and also has access to a few selector repeaters one of which is shown at E: (Fig. 2) and which in turn has access to trunk lines to ,ther exchanges. The trunk line shown leads to another exchange and terminates 'there in the special or incoming selector F (Fig. 3). This selector is very similar to the selector D (Fig. 1) and has access in common with the regular selectors of this second exchange to standard connector switches and also to the selector repeaters, such as G, for calls which are to be extended to other exchanges.

The selector repeater G is the same as the selector repeater E (Fig. 2).

In Fig. 4 is shown a selector I of the same type as selector F with the exception that an extra relay has been provided for sending an additional impulse to the mechanism B (Fig. 3). This selector is snown as having access to a connector H of standard type which in turn has access to the local lines of the third exchange, the local lines, although not shown, are of the same type as substation A, Fig. 1.

Fig 5 shows a selector repeater very similar to the selector repeater E 2), but slightly modified to operate the meter con trolling equipment shown in Fig. 6, which is another modification of my invent-ion.

I will now explain more in detail the operations of the switches in the various changes when the subscriber A sets up a long distance call to a subscriber either in the second zone or exchange or in a third zone, first describing the operation of the system when using the meter control equipment shown in Fig. 2 and then gn a description of the method of operation when Figs. 5 and 6 have been substituted.

When the subscriber at A removes his receiver, he operates the line switch C in a well known manner, closing the line circuit and operating line relay 2 which closes a series circuit for switcning relay 3 and rotary magnet l in series and also prepares short circuit about relay 3 to the private wiper. Should the first trunk line be busy, the ground on the private wiper operates the rotary magnet 4: to step the wipers ahead to an idle trunk. 'lVhen the idle trunk is reached, relay 3 is no longer shorted and energizes to cut oft the direct rotary circuit and to switch the line circuit through to the seized selector D assumed to he the switch seized). Relay 8 also closes one pointin the circuit of the meter X which is coir nected thereby through a fourth wiper to the selector. 7

As soon as switch D is seized, its line relay 6 energizes over the line circuit and closes the circuit of slow relay 7 which grounds the release trunk to hold switch C on the trunk and prepares a circuit for the vertical magnet 8 and series slow relay 9,

The first series of impulses now operate the relay 6 and cause the vertical magnet to step the wipers to a desired level, in this case assumed to he the level in which outgoing selector repeaters, such E, are located. As soon as the switch talres the first vertical step, the springs 10 close and relay 11 operates to close the circuit of the rotary magnet 12. As soon as relay 9 falls back after the impulses cease the circuit of rotary magnet 12 is completed and said magnet Operates to step the switch around in search of an idle selector repeater Each time magnet 12 operates, it opens the circuit of relay 11, which in turn opens the circuit of magnet 12. The ground on the private wiper will again energize relay 11 in case the trunk is busy. This a ternate operation of magnet 12 and relay 11 continues until an idle trunk line is reached at which time relay 13, which has heretofore been short circuited by the ground on the private wiper, energizes in series with relay l1, relay 11 being adjusted so as not to energize inseries witl relay l3. i

The operation of relay l3 switches the line circuit through to the wipers and. to the seized selector repeater E (Fig. 2) and also closes another point in the circuit of the meter magnet at springs i l. When the line circuit is extended to the selector repeater E, a circuit is completed for the line relay 15 thereof in series with the calling line. Relay l5 energizes and in turn operates relay 16 which grounds the release trunk to hold relays 3 and 13 of he ne swi ch C and selector l) energize-d and p cares the circuit of vertical magnet 17 multiple with the slow relay 18.

As the next series 01 impulses are sent in, relay 15 responds thereto and operates mag net 17 to step the wipers 19, 20, and 1 of the selector repeater to some level in which are located trunk lines leading to the ex change in whic it is desired to ca l8 energizes and remains energiz i this series or": impulses holds the rotary interrupter relay 22 energ'zed Belay 22 locks up through springs of rotary magne' 23 and the oil normal rings and holds the relay 2% short circuitel r t I soon as the impuls cease and relay l8 b OL i relay 22 and through I :L'lagnet 2 of p 115532. llela' ant. op ns circuit of n nc 81 Should the nrst set or con.

circuit wou ground over the springs and 3a, and relay 22 to battery. closes the circuit of ma net wipers to the et or tor We operat on ott relay continues i ii idle runl-t ll reached when th is no ground present tle ate cort, then rel-a 2%, whic has been short circuited by this ground on the private wiper, energizes in series with relay 22. Relay 24, upon energizing, opens the circuit of vertical magnet 17, opens the rotary magnet circuit at springs 27 and 28, and completes a locking circuit for itself to the private wiper 21, through springs 83 and 27, and through relay 22 to battery, relay 24: also opens springs and 3% to prevent its being shorted out when ground is supplied to the private by the switch ahead. Relay 2i also closes a bridge at springs 35 across the seized trunk which is assumed to lead to the incoming selector F of the next exchange The circuit thus closed for the line relay of said selector F extends from ground through the lower winding of line relay 86, springs 37 and 38, conductor 39, contact a0 and wiper 20, springs ll of line relay 15, relay 42, upper winding of polarized relay 1-3, springs 35, wiper 19 and contact as, conductor 45, springs a6 and a7, and through the upper winding of relay 36 to battery. Relays 36 and 42 energize over this circuit, relay 4-2 closing the circuit oi the polarized winding of relay a3. Relay a3 is so constructed that both windings must receive current in the proper direction to energize and does not energize at this time due to the fact that current ilows in opposite directions in its two windings. .It will be seen that the magnet 18 at selector re peater E is connected through the high resistance 49 and springs 51 and 50 to one side of the line circuit, magnet 48, however, is so adjusted and resistance 49 is of such a value that the magnet does not energize with the normal current flow over the line circuit. Relay 36 of selector F, upon energizing, causes relay 52 to operateto prepare the vertical magnet circuit and'also to close a circuit for relay 53 at springs 54. delay 53, while energizing, momentarily closes a circuit from the special battery Y through the magnet 48 and resistance 49 at the selector repeater E as follows: Battery Y through resistance 5-1, springs 55, 56, and 57, over conductor 39, contact 40, wiper 20, springs 50 and 51, resistance 49, magnet 18 to battery. Current from the battery Y now assists the current flowing from the regular battery through magnet 1-8 and causes said magnet to operate once to step the wipers of the auxiliary or minor switch B to their first contacts. Should the trunk line 39 l6 be of double length for which one unit 0t charge is required, then it would be necessary to have an additional contact grounded on the interrupter or the relay 53 of the incoming selector associated therewith arranged to send two impulses by adding a relay such asBOO in the manner shown in the selector K, Fig. l, to operate the magnet 18 two steps.

Common to all of the selector repeaters such as E and G of each exchange are a pluopens a circuit at springs ll for rality of interrupters or circuit closers H, ..N, O, 1 etc., only the first tour of which are shown. These interrupters may be of any desired t pe or construction. For simplicity I have siown the interrupters mounted on a common shaft, the same carrying wipers 58, 59, 60, 61, etc., each wiper passing over a series of contacts one or more of which are grounded. The shaft may be constantly rotated by any suitable means, at a speed that will cause the interrupters N to revolve one revolution per minute sending one impulse per minute or faster it desired. Thus it will be seen that if wiper 59 were connected to the meter, two impulses per minute would be transmitted to the meter. It will be seen that the manner in which the contacts of the various banks may be grounded would be varied according to the various lengths of the trunk lines through which the connec tion is being extended, thus providing a very flexible arrangement for operating the meter by simply grounding variable numbers of the contacts of the banks associated with the interrupters. The wiper and bank combination R is arranged to serve as an auxiliary switch and operates to complete the connection at the propertime, as will be herenafter more fully explained. The switch 4 is operated over the line as the connection being extended, to choose the particular in terrupter which will be used. Thus it will be seen that if the switch B steps onestep itwill switch the meter conductor from the selector repeater to the interrupter which will operate the meter once ever revolution of the shaft and if B steps two steps it will switch to the interrupter which will operate the meter twice every revolution, etc.

Returning now to the operation of these lector F (Fig. 3), when the nest series 01" impulses are sent from the calling device, they operate the line relay 15 of the telephone repeater E (Fig. 2) for the previous digit. In this case, however, the only ei'lective circuit controlled by the line relay 15 is the circuit of the line relay 36 of the selector F. Each time relay 15 operates, it

said line relay 36. Relay 15 al o maintains both of the slow relays 16 and 18 operated during impulses. Relay 18, while energized, maintains a short circuit about the two relays 4:2 and l?) in the circuit of the line relay 36 to give more positive operation of said relay. The circuit for line relay 36 extends "from ground through its lower winding, springs 3'7 and 3S, conductor 39, contact 40 and wiper 20, springs 41, springs 66 of relay 18, springs 35, wiper 19 and contact a l, conductor 4.5, springs 46 and i? and upper winding of relay 36 to battery.

Line relay 36 therefore responds to this operation of relay 15 and the selector F is operatedv in the same manner as was the seized by an incoming' selector 1 selector D (Fig. 1) to pick out some level oi"? contacts and to select an idle set of contacts in that group. It will be understood that in case the calling subscriber desires to call a local subscriber in this second exchange, then selector F will be operated to seize one the regular connectors of the system and tien the called line. in this case, however, 1 have assumed that he call is to be extended still farther than this second e1:- change, and the selector will therefore be operated to seize a selector repeater such as G, a number of which are provided for out calls from each ex hange. Therefore,

as relay T0 of the selector F .L] inc line relay 15 in response to the im next (heat to step the wipers pc-ater (l to level of trunks 0t sl closes tl e springs 73. The ci cuit 0 led by sprin 's 73 is, however, ineffective in this call due to the fact that has been and not by a local selector, such as D, nd there is no met-er conductor extending through the selector F. After relay 72 falls back the rotary net circuit is controlled as it was in selector ixp'eater E, to select an idle trunk ne in the lected level and to close the talking circuit arough to the line relay the selector 1, ig. all. As soon the line relay 83 of the ector l energizes, it closes a circuit for ow relay 82, whic i in turn closes a circ i or relay 81. This relay is similar to relay 0; selector F (his; 3) and in this case 'ierates to send an impulse of current to the magnet 78 of the s lector repeater rein battery Y and closes the circuit of relay 300 which energizes to send a second inulse from batter i therefor A per of the minor swi h B two steps also repeats the impulses back to the 48 of the selector repeater E by inthe springs 8 1i, battery Y being siuiilai to batteries I- d Y Magnet (Fig. 2) therefore operates to step the Wipers ot the minor switch B to their third contacts, it having; been assumed that the trunk lines be tween the first two exchanges are the one ength, and that the trunk between the second and third exchange is oil double length. lfheretore, the switch l3 will have its wi or connected to the interrupt r O, which will operate to send three impulses from ground each revolution of the shaft.

The next series of impulses will operate selector 1 of the third exchange in the 23 C51 Ho 1 to the magnet 78. o erates to step tc same manner as selector F was operated except that in this case, the selector will be elevated to a level of contacts in which are located connector switches, such as H, which have access to the desired group of local subscribers. As soon as slow series relay 85 alls back, relay 8? and magnet 86 will bein operation to automatically select an idle 'onnector, assumed to be the connector l-l.

The next series of impulses will operate the line relay 88 ot the connector H which is of dard type to step the wipers to a certain le Relay S9 puts ground on the release tru l: and repares the circuitoi vertical m1: t and after the first seri or impua to the switch, relay 91 falls back and oil relay 96 which op rates to disconnect ringing current, closes the springs 97 which are ineffective at this time, and cuts the called line through to the back bridge or reversing relay 98-.

Now when relay 98 energizes, it ievcrses the connectionsot the line relay 88 to the talking circuit and therefore reverses tllG flow oi? current in the upper winding of cbridged electro-polarized relay 99 of selector r peater G Relay 9E) closes the springs 100 which are ineffective at this time and closes the circuit of the reversing relay 102 to reverse the connection of the line relay 68 to the talking circuit towards tne calling subscriber This reversal of current causes the operation of electropolarized relay 13 of th selector repeater E (Fig. 2) in the same manner as relay 99 was operated. Relay d3, however, in closing its springs 103 closes a poin in a circuit for the meter magnet X of the callingne through to the wiper or" the minor sw, B

and thence to the interrupter 2) and closes a point in the circuit of relay 4C9.

"lb ht' th e A t wii e seen e la as soon as a e connection is completed to the called subscr ber from the selector repeater E, Fig. 2, that a tone will be connected to the called subscribers line through SPIlllgS 111 and 113 to indicate to the called subscriber that a toll call is being made to his line. li hen th wiper 106 of switch BM arrives its grounded contact, relay e 9 energizes over the following circuit,

springs 108 of relay 13, winding of relay 49, 1

second contact of left bank of switch B, wip- 1 er 109, wiper 106 of switch R and its first contact, to ground. Relay 49 energizes over this circuit and locks up through springs 174, at springs 111 removes the tone from the extended line, at springs 64 completes the circuit of the meter X, and at springs 61 and 112 closes the talking circuit.

It may be stated at this time that, should the wiper 106 be upon its grounded contact at the time relay 43 energized, the relay 49 would immediately energize and no tone would be extended to the called subscriber and the connection would immediately cut through. It will be seen, therefore, that as long as conversation continues the magnet X will continue to operate three times per each revolution of the shaft until either of the relays 16 or 43 are deenergized by the hanging up of the receiver at the calling or called station.

It will be understood that a call may be thus extended through any number of intermediate zones or exchanges, and that the minor switch of the outgoing selector repeater of the exchange in which the calling subscriber is located, is the only one which is effective to operate the meter and may be connected to any one of a plurality of common interrupters during the progress of a call. Also it will be understood that the interrupters M. N., etc., are common to all the outgoing selector repeaters of an exchange and may be operated continuously or at least as long as any selector repeater is being used.

'It will be seen that the operating impulses for controlling the minor switch in the originating exchange are repeated back through the various selectors between series of impulses and that the connections from the magnets 48, 7 8, etc., of the selector repeaters are cut off from the talking circuit by the relays l8 and 7 2 during the transmission of impulses and by the relays 43 and 99 during conversation. 1

The above is a detailed description of the method of controlling the operation of the meter as explainedin my co-pending application, Serial No. 499,011, filed September 7, 1921, of which this application is a division. It will now be shown how the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 which constitute the invention in the present application may be operated to control the meter.

Upon making a study of Fig. 5, it will be found that the selector V is very similar to selector E, with the exception that the relay 49 has been omitted and that relay 243 controls slightly different circuits for controlling the operation of the meter controlling equipment shown in Fig. 6.

In the controlling circuit shown and described in Fig. 2, the interrupting equipment was shown common to an exchange and theinterrupters were constantly rotated and therefore the tone was required to inwhich is individual to the selector.

form the called subscriber that a call was being extended to his line until the switch cut through or until the interrupter arrived at a certain point, all as has been previously explained.

In this modification, however, this tone is unnecessary as there are provided a pluralit of interrupters preselected by switch S The interrupters are controlled by magnets 301, 302, 303, 304 etc. switch 13,-is provided individual to the selector and operates over the same circuit and performs the same function as does switch B, with the exception that it has wipers for connecting any one of a plurality of interrupter sets which may be taken for use.

The relays 305308 are also individual to the selector and are operated in multiple with magnet-s 301, 302, etc., to close a point in the meter circuit and the particular contact chosen by switch B through the wiper of the chosen interrupter set.

The wipers 353, 357, 355, 352, and 356 are so arranged that no break occurs in moving from one contact until another is engaged for reasons to be hereinafter explained. The operation of switch S is as follows: We will assume that the wipers of switch S are resting on the first contacts of the group of interrupters which are idle, and another switch S also is setting on the first set of contacts; then if the selector associated with the other switch S is operated, an operating circuit will be completed from ground, contacts similar to 244, to and through the wiper and contact of. its switch S-first position, to magnet 301. The magnet 301 steps the wipers 352, and the wipers shown connected to wiper 352 by a shaft on to the grounded contacts and a circuit is then completcd from ground wiper 352 to the first contact of switch S, wiper 353, through break springs 239 to magnet 309, causing the same -to move the wipers to the next idle bank contact. It will thus be seen that the switches S always preselect an idle interrupter set.

Vfe will now assume that the call has been extended as described in the prior arrangement and that the operating impulses for controlling the switch B in the originating exchanges are repeated back, all as has been previously explained, and in this case the swith B will therefore have its wipers resting on its third contacts.

When the called subscriber responds, the relay 243 energizes the same as was described for relay 43, but in this case, the interrupter set having been pre'selected, the connection is allowed to be immediately cut through and the relay 243 closes a circuit from ground, springs 244, conductor 245 to point 349 where the circuit'branches to oper- A switch 13 similar to ate relay 805 and magnet 301 in multiple through wipers 3 16, 366, and their first contacts, it being assumed that the first interrupter set is idle and the wipers of switch S are resting thereon. Under the condition assumed in this particular call, the meter operating circuit may be traced as follows: Ground, wiper 350, conductor 351, third contact of upper bank of switch B wiper 347, make springs of relay 305, conductor 32 1-, springs 2&8, springs 288, back over the previously described circuit to the meter X. The magnet 301 interrupts its own circuit at springs S58 and continues to step its associated wipers around until the calling or called subscriber replaces his receiver, which causes the circuit to be opened at relays 215 or and thereby cause the disconnection of the meter from the line. Should the disconnection be brought about at a time when the interrupter is elf normal, the same will hav an operating circuit extending from the grounded wiper 352 through the springs for continuing the operation of the interrupter magnet until normal position is reached and the ground removed from the contact of the switch S, making the set available for another call.

I have shown the minor switches B, B and B only diagrammatically, it being understood that these switches may be of any approved and simple type. As shown, these switches are of the type which have a holdin dog such as 105, these dogs being disengaged from the ratchet teeth when the release magnets of the associated switches operate to release the switches, thus restoring these switches to normal. The switch S may be of any simple rotary type which always operates in a forward direction, having no normal position.

It will also be understood that in case a call is set up from a calling subscriber, such as it, through a line switch G, a selector D and a connector H, (Fig. 4) to a subscriber in the same exchange, then the meter X will be operated once when the called party answers by the operation of the ring-cut oil relay 96 of the connector, which connects ground to the meter trunk or fourth conductor and holds the magnet X energized until conversation is terminated. It will also be understood that each line may be provided with a standard type of reverse battery meter, controlled by a polarized relay in series with the line circuit which will register all local calls whenever the reverse bat tery relay 98 of a local connector energizes. In this case, the springs 97 of the connector and the conductor controlled thereby may be omitted and meter X will then register only long distance calls.

t will therefore be seen that I have provided a very eliicient and simple system of zone metering which requires very little additional equipment and in which most of the additional devices are common to the switches of an exchange.

Having fully described and ascertained the features and aspects of my invention,

what I consider to be new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent will be pointed out in the appended claims.

l fhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a telephone system in which zones of calling are arbitrarily established, means for extending talking circuits from one line to a line in any other zone, a plurality of code interrupter sets common to the lines each having a code interrupter for charging at the rate fixed for calling into each zone, and means for selecting an idle one of said sets whenever a call is extended.

2. In a telephone system in which zones of calling are arbitrarily established, means for extending talking circuits from one line to a line in any other zone, a plurality of code interrupter sets common to the lines each having a code interrupter for charging at the rate fixed for calling into each zone, and means controlled by each call for selecting an idle one of said sets in readiness for use by the next call.

3. in a telephone system in which zones of calling are arbitrarily established, means for extending talking circuits from one line to a line in any other zone, a plurality of code interrupter sets common to the lines each having a code interrupter for charging at the rate fixed for calling into each zone, means operated when a call is set up to any zone for selecting the code interrupter for charging according to the zone, and a pre' selecting device for determining that the code interrupter in an idle one of said sets will be used.

4. In a telephone system, calling lines, called lines located in different zones of calling for which zones different rates of charging, are required, a plurality of code senders each capable of sending'any one of a plurality of codes, means for preselecting an idle one of said senders ahead of each call, and means operated when calling into any zone for determining which code of the preselected sender will be effective.

In a telephone system, a subscribers line, a meter therefor, trunk lines, automatic switches accessible thereto and through which talking connections may bev extended from said line over any number of said trunk lines to a called line, code interrupter sets common to the lines each having a code interrupter for charging at arate deter mined by the location of the line called, and means for preselecting an idle one of said code inter-rupters to permit the commencement of charge for the connection to begin immediately upon response of'the subscriber called.

6. In a telephone system, embracing a number of exchanges, means for extending connections from calling lines in any exchange to a called line in any other exchange, an impulse transmitter in each exchange which sends a code of impulses to the. calling exchange whenever a call is extended thereto, a plurality of meter operating devices at each exchange and associated means for maintaining one of said meter operating devices pre-selected, and means at the calling exchange responsive to the impulses transmitted from the called exchange to determine the rate at which the pie-selected meter operating device will be effective.

7. In a telephone system, calling lines, called lines located in different zones of call ing for which dilferent rates of charge are required, a plurality of code senders each capable of starting from normal and sending any one of a plurality of codes, means for seizing an idle one of said senders, and means operated during the progress of a call for-determining which code or a seized sender will be effective.

8. In a telephone system, calling lines, called lines located in diiferent zones of call ing for which diiferent rates of charge are required, a plurality of code senders each capable of starting from normal and sending any one of a plurality of codes, means for seizing an idle one of said senders, and means operated during the progress of a call for determining which code of a seized sender will be effective, upon a talking connection being completed means for advancing the sender to normal upon termination of a talking connection, and means for pre venting said sender being effective during any movement of the sender subsequent to the termination of the call.

9. In a measured service telephone system, meter control equipment common to an exchange comprising a plurality of rotary switches, each switch having a number of wipersdetermined by the different rates of charge w ich it is desired to be able to assess, a trunk line for use in establishing interexchange calls, a pair of automatic switches associated with said trunk, means for causing one of said pair of switches to operate to select'an idle one of said rotary switches prior to a seizure of said trunk, and means for operating the other of said pair of switches after the trunk is seized to select a particular wiper of the selected switch, to determine the rate at which the connection will be charged for. I

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of September, A. 1).,

WILLIAM IVALTER OWEN. 

